Applied models to biodegradation kinetics of lubricant and vegetable oils in wastewater

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Monitoramento de indicadores geoquímicos e avaliação de biodegradação em área contaminada com óleo diesel

A biorremediação natural da água subterrânea contaminada com óleo diesel em um posto de combustíveis foi avaliada mediante o monitoramento de indicadores geoquímicos e ensaios laboratoriais de biodegradação. Durante um período de dois anos foram realizadas quatro coletas de água subterrânea para a avaliação de diversos parâmetros físico-químicos e a concentração de hidrocarbonetos. As análises microbiológicas consistiram na contagem de bactérias heterotróficas totais, na verificação da presença de bactérias hidrocarbonoclásticas e no teste de biodegradabilidade utilizando o indicador redox DCPIP. Foi possível identificar fatores que corroboram o emprego da técnica de biorremediação natural para o tratamento da água subterrânea, contudo, a presença de hidrocarbonetos retidos no solo representa uma fonte contínua de contaminação, por isso se faz necessário o monitoramento a longo prazo.

Efficiency of bioaugmentation in the removal of organic matter in aquaculture systems

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Viabilidade da aplicação do método respirométrico de Bartha para determinação da biodegradação de poluentes ou resíduos em latossolos

Para avaliar a possibilidade de biorremediação em áreas contaminadas, é necessário determinar a biodegradação dos poluentes no solo. Para esta determinação, emprega-se comumente no Brasil, o método respirométrico de Bartha, adaptado de uma norma holandesa. Porém, os solos tropicais possuem características bem diferentes dos solos de regiões de clima temperado. Neste trabalho, foi estudada a aplicabilidade de tal método para um latossolo, tipo de solo predominante no Estado de São Paulo. A partir dos resultados obtidos, foi possível verificar que reações abióticas geram gás carbônico em quantidades significativas. Constatou-se, também, a dificuldade de esterilização do solo em autoclave, o que impossibilita a avaliação da remoção dos poluentes por outros mecanismos ou a biodegradação dos mesmos por microrganismos exógenos somente. Portanto, não se recomenda a aplicação do teste respirométrico de Bartha para a determinação da biodegradabilidade de poluentes em latossolos.

Chemical structure, surface properties and biological activities of the biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI from soapstock

Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI isolated from petroleum-contaminated soil produced rhamnolipids (RLLBI) when cultivated on soapstock as the sole carbon source. HPLC-MS analysis of the purified culture supernatant identified 6 RL homologues (%): R-2 C-10 C-10 28.9; R-2 C-10 C-12:1 23.0; R-1 C-10 C-10 23.4; R-2 C-10 C-12 11.3; R-2 C-10 C-12 7.9; R-2 C-10 C-12 C-12 5.5. To assess the potential antimicrobial activity of the new rhamnolipid product, RLLBI, its physicochemical properties were studied. RLLBI had a surface tension of 24 mN m(-1) and an interfacial tension 1.31 mN m(-1); the cmc was 120 mg l(-1). RLLBI produced stable emulsions with hydrocarbons and vegetable oils. This product showed good antimicrobial behaviour against bacteria: MIC for Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus vulgaris was 8 mg l(-1), for Streptococcus faecalis 4 mg l(-1), and for Pseudomonas aeruginosa 32 mg l(-1). RLLBI was active against phytopathogenic fungal species, MIC values of 32 mg l(-1) being found against Penicillium, Alternaria, Gliocadium virens and Chaetonium globosum. Due to its physicochemical properties and antimicrobial behaviour, RLLBI could be used in bioremediation treatment and in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Análise físico-química e composição nutricional da matéria prima e de substratos pré e pós cultivo de Pleurotus ostreatus

The aim of the present study was to carry out the physical, chemical and nutritional analyses of the alternative substrates formulated from wood and agroindustrial residues of the Amazon for Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.:Fr.) Kummer cultivation. The determination of C, N, pH, humidity, soluble solids, protein, fat, total fiber ash, carbohydrates (total and available) and energy were carried out. The substrates were formulated from sawdust of Simarouba amara Aubl. (marupa), Ochroma piramidale Cav. ex. Lam. (pau de balsa) and from the stein of Bactris gasipaes Kunth (pupunheira palm tree), and from Saccharum officinarum L. (sugar cane bagasse). The results demonstrated that the nutritional composition of the substrate is variable and the improvement of the quality of the spent substrate (energy and protein increment) promoted by the metabolism of the fungus during the cultivation, contributed for a more nutritive substrate than the initial one, which could be used as a compost for Agaricus sp. cultivation, as organic fertilizer and for bioremediation for contaminated soils.

Remoção de etanol e benzeno em reator anaeróbio horizontal de leito fixo na presença de sulfato

In this study it is reported the operation of a horizontalflow anaerobic immobilized biomass (HAlB) reactor under sulfate-reducing condition which was also exposed to different amounts of ethanol and benzene. The HAIB reactor comprised of an immobilized biomass on polyurethane foam and ferrous and sodium sulfate solutions were used (91 and 550 mg.l -1, respectively), to promote a sulfate-reducing environment. Benzene was added at an initial concentration of 2.0 mg.l -1 followed by an increased to 9 e 10 mg. l -1, respectively. Ethanol was added at an initial concentration of 170 mg.l -1 followed by an increased range of 960 mg.l -1. The reactor was operated at 30 (± 2) °C with hydraulic detention time of 12 h. Organic matter removal efficiency of 90% with a maximum benzene degradation rate of 0.07 mv, benzene.mg -1 vss.d -1 Thus, this work corroborate the data obtained for Cattony et al (2005) and also demonstrate that compact units of HAIB reactors, under sulfate reducing conditions, are a potential alternative for in situ aromatic compounds bioremediation.

Biodegradability of diesel and biodiesel blends

The biodegradability of pure diesel and biodiesel and blends with different proportions of biodiesel (2% (commercial); 5% and 20%) was evaluated employing the respirometric method and the redox indicator 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP) test. In the former, experiments simulating the contamination of natural environments (soil from a petrol station or water from a river) were carried out in Bartha biometer flasks (250 ml), and used to measure the microbial CO 2 production. With the DCPIP test, the capability of three inocula to biodegrade the blends was tested. Results show that although biodiesel is more easily and faster biodegraded than diesel oil, among the blends evaluated (2%, 5% and 20%), only the blend with higher concentration of biodiesel presented biodegradability significantly different from diesel and it was not verified an improvement on the biodegradation of the diesel by means of co-metabolism. © 2008 Academic Journals.

Acid dye biodegradation using saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized with polyethyleneimine-treated sugarcane bagasse

Chemical reagents used by the textile industry are very diverse in their composition, ranging from inorganic compounds to polymeric compounds. Strong color is the most notable characteristic of textile effluents, and a large number of processes have been employed for color removal. In recent years, attention has been directed toward various natural solid materials that are able to remove pollutants from contaminated water at low cost, such as sugarcane bagasse. Cell immobilization has emerged as an alternative that offers many advantages in the biodegradation process, including the reuse of immobilized cells and high mechanical strength, which enables metabolic processes to occur under adverse conditions of pH, sterility, and agitation. Support treatment also increases the number of charges on the surface, thereby facilitating cell immobilization processes through adsorption and ionic bonds. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) is a polycationic compound known to have a positive effect on enzyme activity and stability. The aim of the present study was to investigate a low-cost alternative for the biodegradation and bioremediation of textile dyes, analyzing Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilization in activated bagasse for the promotion of Acid Black 48 dye biodegradation in an aqueous solution. A 1 % concentration of a S. cerevisiae suspension was evaluated to determine cell immobilization rates. Once immobilization was established, biodegradation assays with free and immobilized yeast in PEI-treated sugarcane bagasse were evaluated for 240 h using UV-vis spectrophotometry. The analysis revealed significant relative absorbance values, indicating the occurrence of biodegradation in both treatments. Therefore, S. cerevisiae immobilized in sugarcane bagasse is very attractive for use in biodegradation processes for the treatment of textile effluents. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Application of micronucleus test and comet assay to evaluate BTEX biodegradation

The BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) mixture is an environmental pollutant that has a high potential to contaminate water resources, especially groundwater. The bioremediation process by microorganisms has often been used as a tool for removing BTEX from contaminated sites. The application of biological assays is useful in evaluating the efficiency of bioremediation processes, besides identifying the toxicity of the original contaminants. It also allows identifying the effects of possible metabolites formed during the biodegradation process on test organisms. In this study, we evaluated the genotoxic and mutagenic potential of five different BTEX concentrations in rat hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells, using comet and micronucleus assays, before and after biodegradation. A mutagenic effect was observed for the highest concentration tested and for its respective non-biodegraded concentration. Genotoxicity was significant for all non-biodegraded concentrations and not significant for the biodegraded ones. According to our results, we can state that BTEX is mutagenic at concentrations close to its water solubility, and genotoxic even at lower concentrations, differing from some described results reported for the mixture components, when tested individually. Our results suggest a synergistic effect for the mixture and that the biodegradation process is a safe and efficient methodology to be applied at BTEX-contaminated sites. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Clastogenicity of landfarming soil treated with sugar cane vinasse

The addition of nutrients and/or soil bulking agents is used in bioremediation to increase microbial activity in contaminated soils. For this purpose, some studies have assessed the effectiveness of vinasse in the bioremediation of soils contaminated with petroleum waste. The present study was aimed at investigating the clastogenic/aneugenic potential of landfarming soil from a petroleum refinery before and after addition of sugar cane vinasse using the Allium cepa bioassay. Our results show that the addition of sugar cane vinasse to landfarming soil potentiates the clastogenic effects of the latter probably due the release of metals that were previously adsorbed into the organic matter. These metals may have interacted synergistically with petroleum hydrocarbons present in the landfarming soil treated with sugar cane vinasse. We recommend further tests to monitor the effects of sugar cane vinasse on soils contaminated with organic wastes. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Assessment of the genotoxicity of two agricultural residues after processing by diplopods using the Allium cepa assay

Agroindustrial by-products and residues from treatment of sewage sludge have been recently recycled as soil amendments. This study was aimed at assessing toxic potential of biosolid, obtained from a sewage treatment plant (STP), vinasse, a by-product of the sugar cane industry, and a combination of both residues using Allium cepa assay. Bioprocessing of these samples by a terrestrial invertebrate (diplopod Rhinocricus padbergi) was also examined. Bioassay assembly followed standards of the Brazilian legislation for disposal of these residues. After adding residues, 20 diplopods were placed in each terrarium, where they remained for 30 days. Chemical analysis and the A. cepa assay were conducted before and after bioprocessing by diplopods. At the end of the bioassay, there was a decrease in arsenic and mercury. For the remaining metals, accumulation and/or bioavailability varied in all samples but suggested bioprocessing by animals. The A. cepa test revealed genotoxic effects characterized by different chromosome aberrations. Micronuclei and chromosome breaks on meristematic cells and F1 cells with micronuclei were examined to assess mutagenicity of samples. After 30 days, the genotoxic effects were significantly reduced in the soil + biosolid and soil + biosolid + vinasse groups as well as the mutagenic effects in the soil + biosolid + vinasse group. Similar to vermicomposting, bioprocessing of residues by diplopods can be a feasible alternative and used prior to application in crops to improve degraded soils and/or city dumps. Based on our findings, further studies are needed to adequately dispose of these residues in the environment. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Avaliação dos efeitos citotóxicos, genotóxicos e mutagênicos do BTEX, antes e após o processo de biorremediação por microrganismos, utilizando os sistemas teste de Allium cepa e cultura de células de mamífero

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Celular e Molecular) - IBRC

Avaliação de processos de caracterização e remediação de passivos ambientais de contaminação por hidrocarbonetos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Produção de biomassa por Rubrivivax gelatinosus em efluente de abatedouro avícola utilizando métodos industriais

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)